The Viva HC was launched in England in the late fall of 1970 as a 1971 model. It replaced the very successful Vauxhall Viva HB that had been sold virtually unchanged since 1966 (as a 1967 model). The new HC was available in four different body styles, 2-dr. Sedan, 4-dr. Sedan, 2-dr. Estate and a 2-dr. Coupe known as the Firenza.

For the Canadian market the Viva nameplate along with its related Epic nameplate were dropped in favour of the Firenza tag for all models. Though the Vauxhall Firenza and earlier Vauxhall Viva and Envoy Epic models shared the same floorpan and drivetrain they were very different cars. The big news for the Canadian market in 1971 was the absence of the 1159cc OHV and 1600cc OHC engines found in the earlier Vivas in favour of the 1975cc OHC slant four that was previously only available in the Vauxhall Victor and Viva GT.

Now, one would view this as a significant performance improvement until the numbers were compared and it was discovered that while the 1975cc engine in the 1970 Victor was producing 101 bhp and a whopping 112 bhp in Viva GT guise, by 1971 is was producing a dismal 77 bhp!!! This, in a car heavier than the previous model, did not add up to blistering performance figures. The significant power decrease can be directly attributed to a lowered compression ratio, down to 7.3:1 from 8.5:1 and the advent of crude emission controls with their power robbing air pumps. This was a major blow to the Firenza since the previous OHC Vauxhalls were known for quite spirited performance with a mildly tweaked Viva GT becoming absolutely frightening!

While we had to do with a smog controlled low compression power plant all other markets, from Europe to Australia, were still using a twin-carb slant four rated at 112bhp in the performance based Firenza which may help explain the models success everywhere but Canada! This is not to say that "domestic" UK based cars were all fire breathing beasts since the standard engine was initially the same tried and true 1159cc (later 1256cc) OHV four. The beginnings of labour unrest at Vauxhall in the early seventies did little to help with the quality of automobiles being produced as well. So while GM of Canada didn't exactly have a winning combination on their hands with the new Firenza there were many other ill advised decisions that ultimately destroyed the reputation of Vauxhall in Canada.